7.01 A runner acquires the right to an unoccupied base when he touches
it before he is out. He is then entitled to it until he is put out, or forced to
vacate it for another runner legally entitled to that base.Rule 7.01 Comment: If a runner legally acquires title to a base, and the pitcher
assumes his pitching position, the runner may not return to a previously occupied
base.

7.02 In advancing, a runner shall touch first, second, third and home base
in order. If forced to return, he shall retouch all bases in reverse order,
unless the ball is dead under any provision of Rule 5.09. In such cases, the
runner may go directly to his original base.

7.03 Two runners may not occupy a base, but if, while the ball is alive, two runners are touching a base, the following runner shall be out when tagged. The preceding runner is entitled to the base.

7.04 Each runner, other than the batter, may without liability to be put
out, advance one base when --
(a) There is a balk;
(b) The batters advance without liability to be put out forces the runner
to vacate his base, or when the batter hits a fair ball that
touches another runner or the umpire before such ball has been
touched by, or has passed a fielder, if the runner is forced to
advance;Rule 7.04(b) Comment: A runner forced to advance without liability to be put
out may advance past the base to which he is entitled only at his peril. If such a
runner, forced to advance, is put out for the third out before a preceding runner,
also forced to advance, touches home plate, the run shall score.
Play. Two out, bases full, batter walks but runner from second is overzealous
and runs past third base toward home and is tagged out on a throw by the catcher.
Even though two are out, the run would score on the theory that the run was
forced home by the base on balls and that all the runners needed to do was proceed
and touch the next base.
(c) A fielder, after catching a fly ball, falls into a bench or stand, or
falls across ropes into a crowd when spectators are on the field;Rule 7.04(c) Comment: If a fielder, after having made a legal catch, should fall
into a stand or among spectators or into the dugout or any other out-of-play area
while in possession of the ball after making a legal catch, or fall while in the dugout
after making a legal catch, the ball is dead and each runner shall advance one
base, without liability to be put out, from his last legally touched base at the time
the fielder fell into, or in, such out-of-play area.
(d) While he is attempting to steal a base, the batter is interfered with
by the catcher or any other fielder.
NOTE: When a runner is entitled to a base without liability to be
put out, while the ball is in play, or under any rule in which the ball
is in play after the runner reaches the base to which he is entitled,
and the runner fails to touch the base to which he is entitled before
attempting to advance to the next base, the runner shall forfeit his
exemption from liability to be put out, and he may be put out by tagging
the base or by tagging the runner before he returns to the
missed base.

7.05 Each runner including the batter-runner may, without liability to be
put out, advance --
(a) To home base, scoring a run, if a fair ball goes out of the playing
field in flight and he touched all bases legally; or if a fair ball
which, in the umpires judgment, would have gone out of the playing
field in flight, is deflected by the act of a fielder in throwing his
glove, cap, or any article of his apparel;
(b) Three bases, if a fielder deliberately touches a fair ball with his
cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper
place on his person. The ball is in play and the batter may advance
to home base at his peril;
(c) Three bases, if a fielder deliberately throws his glove at and
touches a fair ball. The ball is in play and the batter may advance
to home base at his peril.
(d) Two bases, if a fielder deliberately touches a thrown ball with his
cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper
place on his person. The ball is in play;
(e) Two bases, if a fielder deliberately throws his glove at and touches
a thrown ball. The ball is in play;Rules 7.05(b) through 7.05(e) Comment: In applying (b-c-d-e) the umpire must
rule that the thrown glove or detached cap or mask has touched the ball. There is
no penalty if the ball is not touched.
Under (c-e) this penalty shall not be invoked against a fielder whose glove is carried
off his hand by the force of a batted or thrown ball, or when his glove flies off
his hand as he makes an obvious effort to make a legitimate catch.
(f) Two bases, if a fair ball bounces or is deflected into the stands outside
the first or third base foul lines; or if it goes through or under
a field fence, or through or under a scoreboard, or through or
under shrubbery or vines on the fence; or if it sticks in such
fence, scoreboard, shrubbery or vines;
(g) Two bases when, with no spectators on the playing field, a thrown
ball goes into the stands, or into a bench (whether or not the ball
rebounds into the field), or over or under or through a field fence,
or on a slanting part of the screen above the backstop, or remains
in the meshes of a wire screen protecting spectators. The ball is
dead. When such wild throw is the first play by an infielder, the
umpire, in awarding such bases, shall be governed by the position
of the runners at the time the ball was pitched; in all other
cases the umpire shall be governed by the position of the runners
at the time the wild throw was made;
APPROVED RULING: If all runners, including the batter-runner,
have advanced at least one base when an infielder makes a wild
throw on the first play after the pitch, the award shall be governed
by the position of the runners when the wild throw was made.Rule 7.05(g) Comment: In certain circumstances it is impossible to award a
runner two bases. Example: Runner on first. Batter hits fly to short right. Runner
holds up between first and second and batter comes around first and pulls up
behind him. Ball falls safely. Outfielder, in throwing to first, throws ball into stand.
APPROVED RULING: Since no runner, when the ball is dead, may advance
beyond the base to which he is entitled, the runner originally on first base goes to
third base and the batter is held at second base.
The term when the wild throw was made means when the throw actually left
the players hand and not when the thrown ball hit the ground, passes a receiving
fielder or goes out of play into the stands.
The position of the batter-runner at the time the wild throw left the throwers
hand is the key in deciding the award of bases. If the batter-runner has not reached
first base, the award is two bases at the time the pitch was made for all runners.
The decision as to whether the batter-runner has reached first base before the throw
is a judgment call.
If an unusual play arises where a first throw by an infielder goes into stands or
dugout but the batter did not become a runner (such as catcher throwing ball into
stands in attempt to get runner from third trying to score on passed ball or wild
pitch) award of two bases shall be from the position of the runners at the time of
the throw. (For the purpose of Rule 7.05 (g) a catcher is considered an infielder.)
PLAY. Runner on first base, batter hits a ball to the shortstop, who throws to second
base too late to get runner at second, and second baseman throws toward first
base after batter has crossed first base. RulingRunner at second scores. (On this
play, only if batter-runner is past first base when throw is made is he awarded third
base.)
(h) One base, if a ball, pitched to the batter, or thrown by the pitcher
from his position on the pitchers plate to a base to catch a runner,
goes into a stand or a bench, or over or through a field fence or
backstop. The ball is dead;
APPROVED RULING: When a wild pitch or passed ball goes
through or by the catcher, or deflects off the catcher, and goes
directly into the dugout, stands, above the break, or any area where
the ball is dead, the awarding of bases shall be one base. One base
shall also be awarded if the pitcher while in contact with the rubber,
throws to a base, and the throw goes directly into the stands or into
any area where the ball is dead.
If, however, the pitched or thrown ball goes through or by the
catcher or through the fielder, and remains on the playing field,
and is subsequently kicked or deflected into the dugout, stands or
other area where the ball is dead, the awarding of bases shall be
two bases from position of runners at the time of the pitch or
throw.
(i) One base, if the batter becomes a runner on Ball Four or Strike
Three, when the pitch passes the catcher and lodges in the
umpires mask or paraphernalia.
If the batter becomes a runner on a wild pitch which entitles the
runners to advance one base, the batter-runner shall be entitled
to first base only.Rule 7.05(i) Comment: The fact a runner is awarded a base or bases without
liability to be put out does not relieve him of the responsibility to touch the base he
is awarded and all intervening bases. For example: batter hits a ground ball which
an infielder throws into the stands but the batter-runner missed first base. He may
be called out on appeal for missing first base after the ball is put in play even
though he was awarded second base.
If a runner is forced to return to a base after a catch, he must retouch his original
base even though, because of some ground rule or other rule, he is awarded
additional bases. He may retouch while the ball is dead and the award is then
made from his original base.
(j) One base, if a fielder deliberately touches a pitched ball with his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place on his person. The ball is in play, and the award is made from the position of the runner at the time the ball was touched.

7.06 When obstruction occurs, the umpire shall call or signal "Obstruction."
If a play is being made on the obstructed runner, or if the batterrunner
is obstructed before he touches first base, the ball is dead
and all runners shall advance, without liability to be put out, to the
bases they would have reached, in the umpires judgment, if there
had been no obstruction. The obstructed runner shall be awarded
at least one base beyond the base he had last legally touched
before the obstruction. Any preceding runners, forced to advance
by the award of bases as the penalty for obstruction, shall
advance without liability to be put out.Rule 7.06(a) Comment: When a play is being made on an obstructed runner,
the umpire shall signal obstruction in the same manner that he calls Time, with
both hands overhead. The ball is immediately dead when this signal is given; however,
should a thrown ball be in flight before the obstruction is called by the umpire,
the runners are to be awarded such bases on wild throws as they would have been
awarded had not obstruction occurred. On a play where a runner was trapped
between second and third and obstructed by the third baseman going into third
base while the throw is in flight from the shortstop, if such throw goes into the
dugout the obstructed runner is to be awarded home base. Any other runners on
base in this situation would also be awarded two bases from the base they last legally
touched before obstruction was called.
(b) If no play is being made on the obstructed runner, the play shall
proceed until no further action is possible. The umpire shall then
call Time and impose such penalties, if any, as in his judgment
will nullify the act of obstruction.Rule 7.06(b) Comment: Under 7.06(b) when the ball is not dead on obstruction
and an obstructed runner advances beyond the base which, in the umpires judgment,
he would have been awarded because of being obstructed, he does so at his
own peril and may be tagged out. This is a judgment call.
NOTE: The catcher, without the ball in his possession, has no right to block the
pathway of the runner attempting to score. The base line belongs to the runner and
the catcher should be there only when he is fielding a ball or when he already has
the ball in his hand.

7.07 If, with a runner on third base and trying to score by means of a
squeeze play or a steal, the catcher or any other fielder steps on, or in front
of home base without possession of the ball, or touches the batter or his
bat, the pitcher shall be charged with a balk, the batter shall be awarded
first base on the interference and the ball is dead.

7.08 Any runner is out when --
(a) (1) He runs more than three feet away from his baseline to avoid being tagged
unless his action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runners
baseline is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner
to the base he is attempting to reach safely; or (2) after touching first base, he leaves the baseline, obviously abandoning his effort to touch the next base;Rule 7.08(a) Comment: Any runner after reaching first base who leaves the
baseline heading for his dugout or his position believing that there is no further
play, may be declared out if the umpire judges the act of the runner to be considered
abandoning his efforts to run the bases. Even though an out is called, the ball
remains in play in regard to any other runner.
This rule also covers the following and similar plays: Less than two out, score
tied last of ninth inning, runner on first, batter hits a ball out of park for winning
run, the runner on first passes second and thinking the home run automatically
wins the game, cuts across diamond toward his bench as batter-runner circles
bases. In this case, the base runner would be called out for abandoning his effort
to touch the next base and batter-runner permitted to continue around bases to
make his home run valid. If there are two out, home run would not count (see Rule
7.12). This is not an appeal play.
PLAY. Runner believing he is called out on a tag at first or third base starts for
the dugout and progresses a reasonable distance still indicating by his actions that
he is out, shall be declared out for abandoning the bases.
(b) He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder
attempting to make a play on a batted ball;Rule 7.08(b) Comment: A runner who is adjudged to have hindered a fielder
who is attempting to make a play on a batted ball is out whether it was intentional
or not.
If, however, the runner has contact with a legally occupied base when he hinders
the fielder, he shall not be called out unless, in the umpires judgment, such hindrance,
whether it occurs on fair or foul territory, is intentional. If the umpire
declares the hindrance intentional, the following penalty shall apply: With less
than two out, the umpire shall declare both the runner and batter out. With two
out, the umpire shall declare the batter out.
If, in a run-down between third base and home plate, the succeeding runner has
advanced and is standing on third base when the runner in a run-down is called
out for offensive interference, the umpire shall send the runner standing on third
base back to second base. This same principle applies if there is a run-down
between second and third base and succeeding runner has reached second (the reasoning
is that no runner shall advance on an interference play and a runner is
considered to occupy a base until he legally has reached the next succeeding base).
(c) He is tagged, when the ball is alive, while off his base. EXCEPTION:
A batter-runner cannot be tagged out after overrunning or
oversliding first base if he returns immediately to the base;
APPROVED RULING: (1) If the impact of a runner breaks a base
loose from its position, no play can be made on that runner at that
base if he had reached the base safely.
APPROVED RULING: (2) If a base is dislodged from its position
during a play, any following runner on the same play shall be considered
as touching or occupying the base if, in the umpires judgment,
he touches or occupies the point marked by the dislodged
bag.
(d) He fails to retouch his base after a fair or foul ball is legally caught
before he, or his base, is tagged by a fielder. He shall not be called
out for failure to retouch his base after the first following pitch, or
any play or attempted play. This is an appeal play;Rule 7.08(d) Comment: Runners need not tag up on a foul tip. They may steal
on a foul tip. If a so-called tip is not caught, it becomes an ordinary foul. Runners
then return to their bases.
(e) He fails to reach the next base before a fielder tags him or the
base, after he has been forced to advance by reason of the batter
becoming a runner. However, if a following runner is put out on a
force play, the force is removed and the runner must be tagged to
be put out. The force is removed as soon as the runner touches
the base to which he is forced to advance, and if he overslides or
overruns the base, the runner must be tagged to be put out.
However, if the forced runner, after touching the next base,
retreats for any reason towards the base he had last occupied, the
force play is reinstated, and he can again be put out if the defense
tags the base to which he is forced;Rule 7.08(e) Comment: PLAY. Runner on first and three balls on batter:
Runner steals on the next pitch, which is fourth ball, but after having touched second
he overslides or overruns that base. Catchers throw catches him before he can
return. Ruling is that runner is out. (Force out is removed.)
Oversliding and overrunning situations arise at bases other than first base. For
instance, before two are out, and runners on first and second, or first, second and
third, the ball is hit to an infielder who tries for the double play. The runner on first
beats the throw to second base but overslides the base. The relay is made to first
base and the batter-runner is out. The first baseman, seeing the runner at second
base off the bag, makes the return throw to second and the runner is tagged off the
base. Meanwhile runners have crossed the plate. The question is: Is this a force
play? Was the force removed when the batter-runner was out at first base? Do the runs that crossed the plate during this play and before the third out was made
when the runner was tagged at second, count? Answer: The runs score. It is not a
force play. It is a tag play.
(f) He is touched by a fair ball in fair territory before the ball has
touched or passed an infielder. The ball is dead and no runner
may score, nor runners advance, except runners forced to
advance. EXCEPTION: If a runner is touching his base when
touched by an Infield Fly, he is not out, although the batter is out;Rule 7.08(f) Comment: If two runners are touched by the same fair ball, only
the first one is out because the ball is instantly dead.
If runner is touched by an Infield Fly when he is not touching his
base, both runner and batter are out.
(g) He attempts to score on a play in which the batter interferes with
the play at home base before two are out. With two out, the interference
puts the batter out and no score counts;
(h) He passes a preceding runner before such runner is out;
(i) After he has acquired legal possession of a base, he runs the
bases in reverse order for the purpose of confusing the defense or
making a travesty of the game. The umpire shall immediately call
Time and declare the runner out;Rule 7.08(i) Comment: If a runner touches an unoccupied base and then thinks
the ball was caught or is decoyed into returning to the base he last touched, he may
be put out running back to that base, but if he reaches the previously occupied base
safely he cannot be put out while in contact with that base.
(j) He fails to return at once to first base after overrunning or oversliding
that base. If he attempts to run to second he is out when
tagged. If, after overrunning or oversliding first base he starts
toward the dugout, or toward his position, and fails to return to
first base at once, he is out, on appeal, when he or the base is
tagged;Rule 7.08(j) Comment: Runner who touches first base in overrunning and is
declared safe by the umpire has, within the intent of Rule 4.09(a) reached first
base and any run which scores on such a play counts, even though the runner subsequently
becomes the third out for failure to return at once, as covered in Rule
7.08(j).
(k) In running or sliding for home base, he fails to touch home base
and makes no attempt to return to the base, when a fielder holds
the ball in his hand, while touching home base, and appeals to the
umpire for the decision.Rule 7.08(k) Comment: This rule applies only where runner is on his way to
the bench and the catcher would be required to chase him. It does not apply to the
ordinary play where the runner misses the plate and then immediately makes an
effort to touch the plate before being tagged. In that case, runner must be tagged.

7.09 It is interference by a batter or a runner when --
(a) After a third strike he hinders the catcher in his attempt to field
the ball;
(b) Before two are out and a runner on third base, the batter hinders
a fielder in making a play at home base; the runner is out;
(c) Any member or members of the offensive team stand or gather
around any base to which a runner is advancing, to confuse, hinder
or add to the difficulty of the fielders. Such runner shall be
declared out for the interference of his teammate or teammates;
(d) Any batter or runner who has just been put out hinders or
impedes any following play being made on a runner. Such runner
shall be declared out for the interference of his teammate;Rule 7.09(d) Comment: If the batter or a runner continues to advance after he
has been put out, he shall not by that act alone be considered as confusing, hindering
or impeding the fielders.
(e) If, in the judgment of the umpire, a base runner willfully and
deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of
fielding a batted ball with the obvious intent to break up a double
play, the ball is dead. The umpire shall call the runner out for
interference and also call out the batter-runner because of the
action of his teammate. In no event may bases be run or runs
scored because of such action by a runner.
(f) If, in the judgment of the umpire, a batter-runner willfully and
deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of
fielding a batted ball, with the obvious intent to break up a double
play, the ball is dead; the umpire shall call the batter-runner out
for interference and shall also call out the runner who had
advanced closest to the home plate regardless where the double
play might have been possible. In no event shall bases be run
because of such interference.
(g) In the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or
first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists
him in returning to or leaving third base or first base.
(h) With a runner on third base, the base coach leaves his box and
acts in any manner to draw a throw by a fielder;
(i) He fails to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball,
or intentionally interferes with a thrown ball, provided that if two
or more fielders attempt to field a batted ball, and the runner
comes in contact with one or more of them, the umpire shall
determine which fielder is entitled to the benefit of this rule, and
shall not declare the runner out for coming in contact with a fielder
other than the one the umpire determines to be entitled to field
such a ball;Rule 7.09(i) Comment: When a catcher and batter-runner going to first base
have contact when the catcher is fielding the ball, there is generally no violation
and nothing should be called. Obstruction by a fielder attempting to field a ball
should be called only in very flagrant and violent cases because the rules give him
the right of way, but of course such right of way is not a license to, for example,
intentionally trip a runner even though fielding the ball. If the catcher is fielding
the ball and the first baseman or pitcher obstructs a runner going to first base
obstruction shall be called and the base runner awarded first base.
(k)A fair ball touches him on fair territory before touching a fielder.
If a fair ball goes through, or by, an infielder, and touches a runner
immediately back of him, or touches the runner after having
been deflected by a fielder, the umpire shall not declare the runner
out for being touched by a batted ball. In making such decision
the umpire must be convinced that the ball passed through,
or by, the fielder, and that no other infielder had the chance to
make a play on the ball. If, in the judgment of the umpire, the runner
deliberately and intentionally kicks such a batted ball on
which the infielder has missed a play, then the runner shall be
called out for interference.
PENALTY FOR INTERFERENCE: The runner is out and the ball
is dead.

7.10 Any runner shall be called out, on appeal, when --
(a) After a fly ball is caught, he fails to retouch his original base
before he or his original base is tagged;Rule 7.10(a) Comment: Retouch, in this rule, means to tag up and start from
a contact with the base after the ball is caught. A runner is not permitted to take
a flying start from a position in back of his base.
(b) With the ball in play, while advancing or returning to a base, he
fails to touch each base in order before he, or a missed base, is
tagged.
APPROVED RULING: (1) No runner may return to touch a missed base after a following runner has scored. (2) When the ball
is dead, no runner may return to touch a missed base or one he has
left after he has advanced to and touched a base beyond the missed
base.Rule 7.10(b) Comment: PLAY. (a) Batter hits ball out of park or ground rule
double and misses first base (ball is dead)he may return to first base to correct
his mistake before he touches second but if he touches second he may not return to
first and if defensive team appeals he is declared out at first.
PLAY. (b) Batter hits ball to shortstop who throws wild into stand (ball is
dead)batter-runner misses first base but is awarded second base on the overthrow.
Even though the umpire has awarded the runner second base on the overthrow,
the runner must touch first base before he proceeds to second base.
These are appeal plays.
(c) He overruns or overslides first base and fails to return to the base
immediately, and he or the base is tagged;
(d) He fails to touch home base and makes no attempt to return to
that base, and home base is tagged.
Any appeal under this rule must be made before the next pitch, or any
play or attempted play. If the violation occurs during a play which ends a
half-inning, the appeal must be made before the defensive team leaves the
field.
An appeal is not to be interpreted as a play or an attempted play.
Successive appeals may not be made on a runner at the same base. If the
defensive team on its first appeal errs, a request for a second appeal on the
same runner at the same base shall not be allowed by the umpire.
(Intended meaning of the word err is that the defensive team in making
an appeal threw the ball out of play. For example, if the pitcher threw to
first base to appeal and threw the ball into the stands, no second appeal
would be allowed.)
Appeal plays may require an umpire to recognize an apparent fourth
out. If the third out is made during a play in which an appeal play is sustained
on another runner, the appeal play decision takes precedence in
determining the out. If there is more than one appeal during a play that
ends a half-inning, the defense may elect to take the out that gives it the
advantage. For the purpose of this rule, the defensive team has left the
field when the pitcher and all infielders have left fair territory on their way
to the bench or clubhouse.Rule 7.10 Comment: If two runners arrive at home base about the same time
and the first runner misses home plate but a second runner legally touches the
plate, the runner is tagged out on his attempt to come back and touch the base or is called out, on appeal, then he shall be considered as having been put out before
the second runner scored and being the third out. Second runners run shall not
count, as provided in Rule 7.12.
If a pitcher balks when making an appeal, such act shall be a play. An appeal
should be clearly intended as an appeal, either by a verbal request by the player or
an act that unmistakably indicates an appeal to the umpire. A player, inadvertently
stepping on the base with a ball in his hand, would not constitute an appeal.
Time is not out when an appeal is being made.

7.11 The players, coaches or any member of an offensive team shall
vacate any space (including both dugouts) needed by a fielder who is
attempting to field a batted or thrown ball.
PENALTY: Interference shall be called and the batter or runner
on whom the play is being made shall be declared out.

7.12 Unless two are out, the status of a following runner is not affected by
a preceding runners failure to touch or retouch a base. If, upon appeal, the
preceding runner is the third out, no runners following him shall score. If
such third out is the result of a force play, neither preceding nor following
runners shall score.